Microsoft is currently under siege. Sony is sitting idly aside allowing Microsoft to take the brunt of the DRM assault while they may be planning a similar strategy. It seems highly unlikely that Microsoft would attempt such a bold move without ubiquitous support from the rest of the industry. However, if Sony comes out and says that an Internet connection isn’t required and you can trade in your games like you always have, Xbox One could lose before the race starts.

Possibilities for Xbox One

Microsoft has a huge uphill battle to prove that always online is a consumer friendly move and not some greedy corporate tactic. One way they can woo gamers back is by presenting an unbelievably low price for the Xbox One, $200. That sounds crazy, but the always-online concept could open a new business model for consoles, similar to what we are accustomed to with smart phones. The catch would be a required contract with some sort of monthly plan. For twenty bucks a month and a $200 entry price, which is lower than the underpowered Wii U, just might be enough to convince gamers into buying an Xbox One this fall. How likely is that price point? Who can say, but Microsoft did come out of the gate $200 less than PS3 at the start of this generation.

Obviously Microsoft would take a huge loss in the hardware department at a $200 price point. However, if there is a contractual obligation and used games are a thing of the past, then software revenue will most likely increase. An example of why this could work can be extracted from Heavy Rain. Heavy Rain sold two million copies, but three million people had trophies. That means an extra 50% of total revenue went to retailers instead of publishers and developers. Microsoft may be thinking they may lose out on a lot of console sales, but they will see a dramatic increase in software revenue.

In terms of consoles sold Microsoft is in third place, yet Microsoft is still winning the battle against Sony. How is that possible? In 2011 Gears of War 3 outsold every single PS3 exclusive by itself. Microsoft knows the majority of profits come from services and software. In that department they are killing Nintendo and Sony. If Microsoft loses out on a large chunk of hardware sales because people won’t buy into the idea of DRM, but sees a monumental increase in profits from software, Microsoft may see that as a plus in the long run. Honestly, Microsoft and Sony don’t care about the guy who bought a used PS3 or 360 and bought a pile of used games. All of that money went to retailers. As far as Sony and Microsoft are concerned, that guy doesn’t exist.

"new life could bring the Wii U’s vitals back online"

Nintendo could be sitting pretty

Let’s be frank; the Wii U is tanking. Outside of the virtual console, you can count all of the releases on the Wii U on one hand from 2013. However, if Sony announces a DRM plan like Microsoft, new life could bring the Wii U’s vitals back online inadvertently.

Gamers tend to count Nintendo out too early in the console races, but Nintendo often ends up making some smart strategic moves to weather the storm. Maybe Nintendo’s foresight about their competitor’s always-online systems pushed them to keep Wii U more traditional. If Sony takes the same route as Microsoft then Wii U will be the only next generation system without DRM. Even Steam requires a connection to authenticate games. Admittedly the phrase next generation is used loosely when discussing the Wii U, but you get the idea. Nintendo often seems out of touch with industry trends, but maybe the big N saw this storm coming and took a hard right.

"there is a historical pattern regarding console’s third iteration"

Devil’s advocate

There is always the possibility that Microsoft is flying solo in the DRM world. So what if they are? Some would argue that Microsoft has always pioneered new ideas for the industry, which is undoubtedly true. Microsoft did put an Ethernet port in the first Xbox when broadband Internet was more of a commodity. In 2005 they introduced XBLA and revolutionized the indie game market. Perhaps they are a modern day Lewis and Clark, but maybe all of that success has gone to their head. It could be argued Sony’s success with the PS2 led them to make poor choices early on for the PS3, namely the $600 entry fee at launch. Furthermore, there is a historical pattern regarding console’s third iteration. The N64, Saturn, and PS3 all saw marginal successes in comparison to their previous versions.

It’s too early to make any decisions or knee jerk reactions, but speculating on the future of games is always fun. It seems Sony is the master of their destiny at the moment, but with E3 less than a week away anything is possible. Let me know what you think the next generation has in store for us in the comments!

The age of dedicated gaming devices is over. It’s not enough for a device to focus on one market. An iPhone does more than call someone; it does everything, and look how well Apple is doing. Xbox is no different. Microsoft sees a bigger pie out there than games. Don’t get me wrong games are a huge market, 65 billion dollars a year to be more precise, but Microsoft wants more than just the gaming market. They want to be involved in the entire entertainment market, which is a smart move.

The Bigger Picture

The Xbox reveal was brilliantly executed. Gamers know the new Xbox will play games, so Microsoft opted to talk more about what makes Xbox unique. Gamers also know EA, Ubisoft, and Activision will be releasing the same games for PS4 and Xbox One. So, why waste time talking about how similar Xbox One is to the competitor, PS4? Microsoft knew that would be a waste of their reveal. Instead, Microsoft took a different route and showed off everything the PS4 can’t do, voice commands, live tv, snap picture, motion controls, smartglass, etc. Microsoft spent the overwhelming majority of their time showing you everything their competitors can’t do while still revealing a few exclusive games.

A lot of hardcore gamers are poo pooing the idea of Xbox splitting its attention with games, but this will actually benefit gamers. If the Xbox is going to be a cable box this simply means, more Xboxes in homes. The more units in homes; the more games will sell. It’s that simple. Look at the iPhone or an Android phone as an example. Niether one of those platforms are game focused, yet the games are coming out by the dozens each day and the hits are selling tens of millions. Why? Because there are hundreds of millions of smart phones out there. With that many phones, games are released more frequently because of the opportunity to reach such a large install base. If Xbox One can find its way into homes through cable box deals that means more units, which means more games. It’s that simple folks. The games will be there.

Different Audiences

Sony is betting on the hardcore audience, which is a much smaller audience. Sure, the dedicated gaming crowd is much louder on the forums, game sites, and the Internet in general, but the they are a drop in the bucket in comparison to the casual audience. Microsoft knows this, and they also know they have the resources to cater to their hardcore audience while aggressively targeting new audiences like NFL fans. What if Microsoft gets the NFL Network as part of their exclusive content. Won’t every bro in America buy an Xbox to watch their Thursday night games on Xbox One? Now, I’m not saying that will happen, but allegedly there is some sort of exclusive content. The NFL is the biggest thing in television so that alone could be a system seller for some. The NFL deal may also come with a Madden deal, which is yet another reason for the bro/NFL guy to buy Xbox One this fall.

The Xbox reveal may not appeal to the hardcore audience, but remember this is all for the best. The more people Microsoft lures in with its TV features and gimmicks means more units sold, which in turn, will lead to more games. Relax, there will tons of games as there was with the Xbox 360.

Maybe you have already prestiged two times, or even three. Maybe you are at your wits end with Black Ops 2 and are looking for a change of pace. That’s where I was a week ago until I started building unique custom classes. Today I present to you a finely tuned class that is sure to please. Be warned the ceiling on this class is low, but the fun factor is high.

I named this goofy class Assault Shield, which explains what your primary weapon will be. Usually the only time you see someone using the shield is in objective games. The users are generally ridiculed and do poorly through out the match. However, I have come up with a class that can hold its own against rifles and other powerful weapons.

The shield is a very underrated tool. I say tool because it is a terrible weapon. Attempting to bash people with the shield should be your last resort. The only proper scenario for a shield bash should be as follows: Your controller goes on the frits in battle. The only buttons that work are your thumbsticks. Then and only then should you use the assault shield as a weapon.

Obviously, you are using the shield, so for your secondary I want you to grab the KAP-40 pistols or the B3R2 pistols and dual wield them. Both of these pistols have a high rate of fire, which is what you need up close to beat out SMGs. When you have two KAP-40 pistols in your hand, you will be spitting out more bullets most SMGs. This equates to, you live he dies.

So far we have three out of ten slots filled. Let’s move on to the perks. Perk 1 is tricky. The importance of ghost can’t be overstated, but at the same time you want to move quickly with the assault shield. Well, we are going in a different direction, flack jacket. From my experience people react to assault shields by chucking explosives. Flack jacket allows you to survive one explosive as long as you didn’t take some bullet or fall damage a few seconds prior. So, let’s play out a scenario where flack jacket saves your life. You are on the prowl and meet eye to eye with your prey. Your prey reaches for his handy c4 or explosive. Now is the time for you to strike! As soon as you see your victim digging in his pockets for said explosive, flip over to your KAP-40s and end him. Even if his explosive hits you, you will live.

Switching to your pistols quickly is paramount to your success, which is why you will be running with fast hands. Fast hands also allows you to reset fuses on frag grenades. Furthermore, fast hands gives you the ability to quickly toss out c4, which is going to be your secondary option for dealing with your prey. C4 is the quickest of all explosives thanks to a handy double tap of X.

Your third perk is probably one of the most overlooked perks in the game, tactical mask. In most circumstances I would agree that this perk is a waste, but when you are carrying an assault shield tactical mask is a must. When people aren’t trying to kill you with explosives they are trying to stun you with concussions, flash bangs, or shock charges. With tactical mask you are nearly invulnerable to all of those grenades. The stun time is around half a second, compared to the normal three to five seconds. In the heat of battle that much time is an eternity.

For your equipment I recommend using C4 and a flashbang. C4 is not optional, but the flashbang is. If you prefer concussions or EMP grenades by all means use them. All of these grenades have different strengths and weaknesses that can be utilized.

Now you have a fun class that you can relax and have a good time with. You may not be out there getting 50 kills a game, but you can still hold your own and laugh hysterically as people hopelessly toss grenades your way.

When two people play a game and have completely different experiences, you know that its special. Spelunky is one of those games. Each adventure changes and yields a completely different experience. One playthrough you may find yourself seeking a key to unlock a shortcut and another may have you hunting for shopkeepers.

The beauty of Spelunky lies in the randomized dungeons. The result of each new permutation presents new stories and uncanny deaths. Even if you and your buddy have the same goal, the two adventures will greatly differ. It’s possible that on your runs for the Low Scorer Achievement you get slapped with a dark level and your friend falls prey to Old Bitey, a giant piranha.

Despite the random levels, Spelunky takes a great deal of skill. Skill is usually reserved for games that most gamers dub “hardcore”; this game goes beyond the labeling of hardcore. As of this writing, Trueachievements.com reports that out of 2,266 tracked gamers only six have earned all of the Achievements. That is a grand total of .26%. Just to be clear, these Achievements aren’t your mindless collection Achievements. They require near perfect runs without dying. For example: The Iron Man Achievement calls for a player to complete the normal game without dying. Simple enough. Only 73 tracked gamers out of 2,266 have done this, which is only 3% (and this is one of the easiest in the game). Naturally, the numbers only get worse for the most difficult Achievements. Without laying down more statistics I think it is safe to say that Spelunky is the kind of game that puts hair on a man’s chest. Ladies, forgive me for not knowing a synonymous expression.

Because the levels are random many agree that Spelunky is the hardest game on XBLA. Yes, even more difficult than Super Meat Boy. I have all the Achievements for both and I say without hesitation, Spelunky is much more difficult. The love-hate relationship grows early in Spelunky—one minute you will be opening a crate to find a jetpack and the next a series of inexplicable events result in your death. Murphy’s law runs the world of Spelunky. Even after about eighty hours of gameplay, I still drop my jaw at my deaths. Incomplete thoughts start spewing from your mouth like a raging river, “How didja….. but he…….. nooooooooo…………come on!”

Some of the best times I had with Spelunky were the conversations with my friend over Xbox Live. Trying to explain an unbelievable death while hearing a friend scream incoherently at Olmec, the last boss, is priceless. Sometimes you’re at a loss for words for what’s on your screen. In those moments, only a picture text will do. Spelunky is without a doubt a single player experience, but it manages to reach beyond that on Xbox Live. Even though co-op is disabled over live, talking to a buddy will greatly enhance your experience. Besides, you need someone to lift your spirits after you die thirty minutes into a run.

As of now I have about 1,300 different adventures, which most would call deaths. Even though I have died over a thousand times, Spelunky still draws me into its mysterious worlds. Right now I am writing about the game and before that I was working on a wiki. Few games grab you and won’t let go like Spelunky. At the very least, play the trial or give the free, but inferior, version a try. Conquering Spelunky is a ride like no other. Good luck and Godspeed.

I had heard of a meat boy that was hailed as super months ago but I had never seen him for myself until one fateful evening.

I was working late as usual delivering pizzas when a friend wanted a discount for pizzas in exchange for a handsome tip and video games. Once the deal was struck I bolted to my friend's house. Seeing Super Meat Boy was love at first sight. He was red, meaty, and fair. He showed me a void in my life I never new existed. That night I rushed home, not daring waste another second without Super Meat Boy, I purchased my very own copy of Super Meat Boy via Xbox live.

I was always a sucker for a challenging plat former but meat boy raised the stakes. These types of games have become relics of the past. The good old days of Mario clones are all but gone. Thankfully Xbox live arcade and other forms of media have preserved plat formers and converted them from mainstream into a niche.

Although this game only reaches a small audience I would highly recommend checking it out. This very well could be the best downloadable game on the market. Meat boy offers some of the most precise controls to ever grace the second dimension, comparable to Mario and Donkey Kong Country. With that being said the controls are extremely simple. Meat boy is only able to jump, sprint and slide on walls. Simplicity makes for the most challenging games. The original Donkey Kong and Ms. Packman are praised as two of the most competitive and challenging games of all time and they both feature tight and simple controls. Just to be clear, I am in no way saying that achieving a kill screen in Donkey Kong is equivalent to any challenge in Super Meat Boy. However, both games can appeal to the same audience.

More than anything Super Meat Boy is brutally difficult. This may seem discouraging to your casual gamer but this resonates with my retro past. Meat boy will give you a challenge like you remember from the original Ninja Gaiden or Ghosts N Goblins, but in a much more fair experience. Meat boy rarely makes you feel like your death was cheap and punished unjustly. Every death will take its toll on your will power but once you overcome a gruesome level the feeling of euphoria sweeps over you like a cool summer breeze. That is when Super Meat Boy is at its best. After a level has been completed a replay begins looping showing where you went wrong on your many deaths. Most likely you will laugh tears of pain and happiness at all the meat sludge covering the level from your many deaths.

Luckily, Super Meat Boy gradually builds up the difficulty rather than throwing you to the wolves right away. There are a total of 310 levels including the light world, dark world, and warp zones. Each world has 20 bandages to find to further extend the game play. Meat boy also features user created worlds. To fully complete the game Super Meat Boy will take 20-30 hours easily depending on how quick you master the controls.

Without a doubt you will build a love hate relationship with meat boy. Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster. This game is an absolute gem that no hardcore gamer should miss.